Among Lynn's band of Horse Bandits, aside from himself and Lao San, the others had no clear understanding of what it meant to be nobles or manage a Territory System.
Their mindsets remained stuck in their days as Horse Bandits. They lacked the necessary knowledge and had no patience to wait for crops to be harvested.
Compared with Three Rivers City, which had a permanent population of eight thousand and five hundred prostitutes, White Bear Territory was truly a godforsaken backwater.
Aside from watching giant bears bare their teeth, White Bear Territory had no other enjoyable forms of entertainment.
If this group of energetic, single Horse Bandits were truly made to stay cooped up in the Territory System for the long term, waiting until August or September to harvest crops, sell them, and divide the spoils, they would probably have caused an uproar long ago.
It was not as if Lynn had never considered finding wives for these Horse Bandits, giving their restless hearts somewhere to settle.
But because of their true identities, it was clearly impossible to let them marry local women before he had complete control of the Territory System.
Of course, Lynn could also rely on the prestige he had built over many years to suppress these vicious Horse Bandits, who treated killing people as casually as eating bread, and let the soft, bountiful White Bear Territory slowly wear away their bandit nature.
But now, he had a better method.
He would paint them a grand vision, allowing the Horse Bandits to maintain their loyalty and morale at all times, then use potential enemies to ignite their fighting spirit.
Now, the grand vision was there. The Salt Mine lay less than fifty kilometers from White Bear Territory, seemingly within reach.
And an enemy had appeared alongside it: the Wild People who had discovered the Salt Mine first.
By the time that grand vision fully came to fruition, these Horse Bandits would have basically completed their splendid transformation into steadfast defenders of the Territory System.
"Big Brother, if we're going to fight the Wild People for the Salt Mine, I'm afraid our current manpower won't be enough."
Sure enough, Lynn had only just painted the vision when Lao Liu was already preparing the sesame seeds.
But as soon as Lao Liu finished speaking, Lao Si and Lao Wu began clamoring.
"How is it not enough?"
"Exactly. We haven't even fought yet, and you're already backing down. Are you still a horse bandit?"
Although Lynn's group contained only a little over twenty Horse Bandits, every one of them was an elite. Each had at least one suit of fine chainmail, their weapons were among the best in the Northern Border, and they had three Heavy Crossbows alone.
With their firepower, wiping out an ordinary baron's territory would be child's play. They came and went like the wind, leaving pursuing troops unable even to glimpse the dust kicked up by their horses' hooves.
Faced with Lao Si and Lao Wu's shouting, Lao Liu once more assumed the air of a teacher.
"Thirty years ago, the previous Marsh Duke dispatched a full five hundred knights. Pay attention: five hundred proper knights with squires. The entire army could not have numbered fewer than three thousand.
It took that kind of force merely to drive the Wild People back into the Northern Wasteland. They were not even completely exterminated. Yet only thirty years have passed, and the Wild People can head south again. Think about it—how many Wild People must there be? Even if none of them wear armor, if they all rush us at once, their numbers alone could crush us to death."
After Lao Liu's rebuke, Lao Si and Lao Wu immediately fell silent.
Lynn took over at that point.
"There's no need to boost others' prestige either. The Wild People must have suffered heavy casualties back then, or they would not only dare operate deep within the forest. What we need to do now is find out the exact number of these Wild People and the level of their weapons and equipment.
"I plan to levy Corvée in the Territory System in May to build a road through the forest, using it to make contact with the Wild Tribes. Before then, none of you may slack off in training. Be ready for battle at all times. As long as we can completely occupy that Salt Mine, we'll earn enough gold coins to fill this study."
Painting a grand vision was merely the first step. The crucial second step was forming a workable plan.
Through that plan, Lynn had initially bound the Horse Bandits to the Territory System and shown them the direction they needed to advance.
"Understood, Big Brother!"
Lao Si and Lao Wu were instantly filled with fighting spirit. They could barely wait to drill the twenty underlings downstairs overnight.
Why did they risk their lives as Horse Bandits?
Wasn't it for inexhaustible wealth?
With money, weren't they gods wherever they went? At that moment, Lao Liu suggested, "Big Brother, I think we can try recruiting some militia from the Territory System. After a few months of training, they may not be of much use, but
at least they can make us look stronger."
Among the brothers, he had adapted his way of thinking the fastest, no slower than Lao San, who had gone to deliver the letter.
He had already begun considering problems from the perspective of a Territory System administrator and trying to mobilize the resources within the Territory System.
It had to be said that people who had studied really did think more sharply.
Naturally, Lynn had already considered what Lao Liu could think of.
"White Bear Territory already has levy troops. Those stewards and Farm Managers all keep weapons at home, and the stables have horses capable of carrying riders. Otherwise, what do you think they use to keep the serfs obedient? But White Bear Territory's farming workload is already heavy enough. Calling them up for training would do more harm than good. Still, I'll consider your suggestion."
In the feudal estates of the Northern Border, people's rights and obligations were generally equal.
Simply put, the more land you owned, the greater the responsibilities you had to bear.
The stewards and Farm Managers of White Bear Territory had already risen beyond the ranks of the lower serfs. They possessed large tracts of tax-free land and ate far better than the lower serfs.
Accordingly, they had to manage the serfs and, when necessary, take up weapons and follow the Lord into battle.
As for those serfs guarding their pitiful Allotment Land, who could only barely feed themselves in good years, it was enough for them to farm and pay taxes. Their physiques could not bear the demands of the battlefield anyway.
War was not merely a matter of comparing numbers. Weak soldiers unable to withstand an assault would only throw their own formations into disorder, producing nothing but negative effects.
As for the Lords and knights at the upper level of the Territory System, as the owners of the Territory System, they naturally bore the greatest responsibilities.
They had to continuously hone their martial skills and temper their bodies, always awaiting summons from higher-ranking nobles and preparing to die on the battlefield.
Lynn had risked encountering the Wild People while patrolling the northern forest. That too was an expression of a Lord's responsibility.
Having enjoyed the contributions of the local residents, he had to take responsibility for every Local resident in the Territory System.
After the small meeting in the study ended, Lao Si, Lao Wu, and Lao Liu left Castle with high spirits. Their residences were right next to Castle.
They also owned houses in several other estates.
The Northern Border lacked everything except land and houses.
After the three left, Second Brother, who had been guarding the door to prevent anyone from eavesdropping, entered the study. "Big Brother, it's getting late. You should rest early."
Lynn picked up his pen and was about to continue working on the map. Hearing that, he looked up with a smile. "So you've learned to care about people now."
"Big Brother, ever since you became a baron, I feel like there hasn't been a single hour when you could stop working. Aren't you tired?"
Having arrived in White Bear Territory only around ten days ago, Second Brother was already beginning to miss their days as Horse Bandits.
Back then, they had been so free. They could go wherever they wanted and rob whoever they wanted.
Now, they were all trapped within White Bear Territory, which seemed vast but was actually incredibly narrow. Big Brother was even busier every day than his feet could carry him.
He was either inspecting farms or feeling his way through the primeval forest.
Was all this worth it?
Before you continue